Weekly post

Aug. 28, 2006

Dear friends,

Knowing that I would be studying Greek this year, I made an effort to surround myself with slightly less intensive courses, at least in the fall semester. I will have to ramp up in the spring for two reasons, but it turns out anyway that Pastoral Care and Preaching, Worship & the Care of Souls are both more reading-heavy than I had thought.

I will have to be more intensive in the spring if I can, because I will have to take Hebrew my third year and therefore want to knock out as many "heavy" courses as I can; this semester, other than Greek, leans toward electives (although they fulfill requirements, to be sure). I will also have to be more intensive in the spring because of Theology.

I have a course transfer that meets the requirements of Theology I but not Theology II. Therefore, this semester I am "only" doing the required reading for Theology I, without the class sessions, papers or exams. That helps give me time to get some kind of a foundation in Greek. In the spring, however, Greek continues but I will add Theology II. I've seen the syllabus for Theology I and it's a killer. Theology is dense reading anyway, of the sort that takes 10 minutes a page instead of 1. A 20-page assignment can easily consume more than an hour. It's like lead as opposed to eggshells. But I think having to do the reading without the class sessions, papers or exams will be a way to ease into the course so that Theology II isn't as much of a shock to the system.

I'm still on target to have to take only 12 hours in the fall semester of my third year and nine hours in the spring. That will be my reward for the heavy lifting earlier on! One devoutly hopes.

Grace and peace,
Beth